Antimicrobial Skin Isolator for Catheters

Abstract

An antimicrobial medical device for use during the placement of a catheter. The antimicrobial medical device includes a tubular body configured to receive the catheter through a lumen of the tubular body during an intravascular procedure and wall of the tubular body forms a liner between catheter and the patient's skin. The device further includes an antimicrobial material coupled with the tubular body so that in use the antimicrobial material inhibits microbe growth at the insertion site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial medical device, comprising:
 a tubular body defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the lumen configured to receive a catheter therethrough during an intravascular procedure; and   an antimicrobial material coupled with the tubular body, wherein the tubular body is configured for insertion into a vascular access pathway extending through a skin layer of a patient so that, in use, a wall of the tubular body defines a microbial barrier between the skin layer and the catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is a coating applied to the tubular body. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is impregnated into a body material of the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body includes a flange protruding radially away from the tubular body, the flange configured to extend along a surface of the skin. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the flange is configured for attachment to the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the flange includes an adhesive applied to an underside thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the flange is oriented to form an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is configured to form a seal with the catheter to prevent egress of body fluid between the tubular body and the catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular body includes an inward annular protrusion configured to form the seal. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is sized so that, in use, the distal end of the tubular body is disposed within a blood vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is a central line catheter. 
     
     
         12 . An intravascular catheter assembly, comprising:
 a catheter; and   the antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1  coupled with the catheter so that the antimicrobial medical device annularly covers at least a portion of the catheter.   
     
     
         13 . The intravascular catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the antimicrobial medical device covers a distal tip of the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . A catheter introducer assembly, comprising:
 a catheter introducer; and   the antimicrobial medical device of  claim 1  coupled with the catheter introducer so that the antimicrobial medical device annularly covers at least a portion of the catheter introducer.   
     
     
         15 . The catheter introducer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial medical device covers a distal tip of the catheter introducer. 
     
     
         16 . A method of placing a catheter within a patient, comprising:
 providing an isolator comprising:
 a tubular body defining a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the lumen configured to receive the catheter therethrough during an intravascular procedure; and 
 an antimicrobial material coupled with the tubular body; 
   inserting the isolator into a vascular access pathway of the patient;   inserting the catheter through the lumen of the isolator; and   advancing the catheter along a blood vessel of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting the catheter through the lumen of the isolator forms a fluid seal between the catheter and the isolator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the isolator defines a microbial barrier between a skin layer of the patient and the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting the isolator into the vascular access pathway so that the distal end of the tubular body is disposed within the blood vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting the catheter through the lumen of the isolator after inserting the isolator into the vascular access pathway. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting the isolator into the vascular access pathway so that a flange of the isolator is disposed adjacent a skin surface of the patient. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising attaching the flange of the isolator to the skin surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching the isolator to the catheter. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting the catheter into the lumen of the isolator so that a distal end of the catheter is disposed proximal the distal end of the tubular body prior to inserting the isolator into the vascular access pathway. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein inserting the isolator into the vascular access pathway comprises manually applying a distally oriented force to the catheter, wherein the distally oriented force is transferred to the isolator via the catheter. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting a catheter introducer into the isolator. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising inserting the catheter introducer into the vascular access pathway after inserting the catheter introducer into the isolator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the catheter is a central line catheter.